Let R be a notion of algorithmic randomness for individual subsets of N. We say B is a base for R randomness if there is a Z �T B such that Z is R random relative to B. We show that the bases for 1-randomness are exactly the K-trivial sets and discuss several consequences of this result. We also show that the bases for computable randomness include every ∆ 0 2 set that is not diagonally noncomputable, but no set of PA-degree. As a consequence, we conclude that an n-c.e. set is a base for computable randomness iff it is Turing incomplete. 1

Degrees of inferability have been introduced to measure the learning power of inductive inference machines which have access to an oracle. The classical concept of degrees of unsolvability measures the computing power of oracles. In this paper we determine the relationship between both notions. 1 Introduction We consider learning of classes of recursive functions within the framework of inductive inference [21]. A recent theme is the study of inductive inference machines with oracles ([8, 10, 11, 17, 24] and tangentially [12]; cf. [10] for a comprehensive introduction and a collection of all previous results.) The basic question is how the information content of the oracle (technically: its Turing degree) relates with its learning power (technically: its inference degree---depending on the underlying inference criterion). In this paper a definitive answer is obtained for the case of recursively enumerable oracles and the case when only finitely many queries to the oracle are allo...

The biinterpretability conjecture for the r.e. degrees asks whether, for each sufficiently large k, the # k relations on the r.e. degrees are uniformly definable from parameters. We solve a weaker version: for each k >= 7, the k relations bounded from below by a nonzero degree are uniformly definable. As applications, we show that...

Let A be a subset of the natural numbers, and let F A n (x 1 ; : : : ; xn ) = hØA (x 1 ); : : : ; ØA (xn )i; where ØA is the characteristic function of A. An oracle Turing machine with oracle A could certainly compute F A n with n queries to A. There are some sets A (e.g., the halting set) for which F A n can be computed with substantially fewer than n queries. One key reason for this is that the questions asked to the oracle can depend on previous answers, i.e., the questions are adaptive. We examine when it is possible to save queries. A set A is terse if the computation of F A n from A requires n queries. A set A is superterse if the computation of F A n from any set requires n queries. A set A is verbose if F A 2 n \Gamma1 can be computed with n queries to A. The range of possible query savings is limited by the following theorem: F A n cannot be computed with only blog nc queries to a set X unless A is recursive. In addition we produce the following: (1) a verbose ...

Abstract. One approach to understanding the fine structure of initial segment complexity was introduced by Downey, Hirschfeldt and LaForte. They define X ≤K Y to mean that (∀n) K(X ↾ n) ≤ K(Y ↾ n) +O(1). The equivalence classes under this relation are the K-degrees. We prove that if X ⊕ Y is 1-random, then X and Y have no upper bound in the K-degrees (hence, no join). We also prove that n-randomness is closed upward in the K-degrees. Our main tool is another structure intended to measure the degree of randomness of real numbers: the vL-degrees. Unlike the K-degrees, many basic properties of the vL-degrees are easy to prove. We show that X ≤K Y implies X ≤vL Y, so some results can be transferred. The reverse implication is proved to fail. The same analysis is also done for ≤C, the analogue of ≤K for plain Kolmogorov complexity. Two other interesting results are included. First, we prove that for any Z ∈ 2ω, a 1-random real computable from a 1-Z-random real is automatically 1-Z-random. Second, we give a plain Kolmogorov complexity characterization of 1-randomness. This characterization is related to our proof that X ≤C Y implies X ≤vL Y. 1.

We compare various notions of algorithmic randomness. First we consider relativized randomness. A set is n-random if it is Martin-Lof random relative to . We show that a set is 2-random if and only if there is a constant c such that infinitely many initial segments x of the set are c-incompressible: C(x) c. The `only if' direction was obtained independently by Joseph Miller. This characterization can be extended to the case of time-bounded C-complexity.

A real is called recursively enumerable if it is the limit of a recursive, increasing, converging sequence of rationals. Following Solovay [23] and Chaitin [10] we say that an r.e. real dominates an r.e. real if from a good approximation of from below one can compute a good approximation of from below. We shall study this relation and characterize it in terms of relations between r.e. sets. Solovay's [23]-like numbers are the maximal r.e. real numbers with respect to this order. They are random r.e. real numbers. The halting probability ofa universal self-delimiting Turing machine (Chaitin's Ω number, [9]) is also a random r.e. real. Solovay showed that any Chaitin Ω number is-like. In this paper we show that the converse implication is true as well: any Ω-like real in the unit interval is the halting probability of a universal self-delimiting Turing machine.

We discuss some aspects of algorithmic randomness and state some open problems in this area. The first part is devoted to the question "What is a computably random sequence?" Here we survey some of the approaches to algorithmic randomness and address some questions on these concepts. In the second part we look at the Turing degrees of Martin-Lof random sets. Finally, in the third part we deal with relativized randomness. Here we look at oracles which do not change randomness. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 03D80; Secondary 03D28. 1 Introduction Formalizations of the intuitive notions of computability and randomness are among the major achievements in the foundations of mathematics in the 20th century. It is commonly accepted that various equivalent formal computability notions -- like Turing computability or -recursiveness -- which were introduced in the 1930s and 1940s adequately capture computability in the intuitive sense. This belief is expressed in the w...

Abstract. We study the proof–theoretic strength and effective content denote Ram-of the infinite form of Ramsey’s theorem for pairs. Let RT n k sey’s theorem for k–colorings of n–element sets, and let RT n < ∞ denote (∀k)RTn k. Our main result on computability is: For any n ≥ 2 and any computable (recursive) k–coloring of the n–element sets of natural numbers, there is an infinite homogeneous set X with X ′ ′ ≤T 0 (n). Let I�n and B�n denote the �n induction and bounding schemes, respectively. Adapting the case n = 2 of the above result (where X is low2) to models is conservative of arithmetic enables us to show that RCA0 + I �2 + RT2 2 over RCA0 + I �2 for �1 1 statements and that RCA0 + I �3 + RT2 < ∞ is �1 1-conservative over RCA0 + I �3. It follows that RCA0 + RT2 2 does not imply B �3. In contrast, J. Hirst showed that RCA0 + RT2 < ∞ does imply B �3, and we include a proof of a slightly strengthened version of this result. It follows that RT2 < ∞ is strictly stronger than RT2 2 over RC A0. 1.

This is a contribution to the study of the Muchnik and Medvedev lattices of non-empty Π0 1 subsets of 2ω. In both these lattices, any non-minimum element can be split, i.e. it is the non-trivial join of two other elements. In fact, in the Medvedev case, if P>MQ, thenP can be split above Q. Both of these facts are then generalised to the embedding of arbitrary finite distributive lattices. A consequence of this is that both lattices have decidible ∃-theories. 1